Medical fluid therapy system having multi-state alarm feature

ABSTRACT

A medical fluid therapy system includes a medical fluid pumping apparatus; a first medical fluid container holding a first medical fluid and including a first line extending to the pumping apparatus; a second medical fluid container holding a second medical fluid and including a second line extending to the pumping apparatus; and an alarm feature provided with the pumping apparatus and including a first alarm signal associated with a first low level event of the first or second fluid, a second alarm signal associated with a second low level event of the first or second fluid, and a snooze element configured to deactivate the first alarm signal after the first low level event has occurred and to enable the second alarm level to be activated upon occurrence of the second low level event.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to and the benefit as a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/610,035, filed Jan.30, 2015, entitled “Multi-State Alarm System For A Medical Pump”, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,925,334, which is a continuation application of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/855,857, filed May 27, 2004, entitled“Multi-State Alarm System for a Medical Pump”, now U.S. Pat. No.8,961,461, the entire contents of each of which is hereby incorporatedby reference and relied upon.

CROSS REFERENCE TO APPLICATIONS

This application expressly incorporates by reference, and makes a parthereof, the following U.S. patent and U.S. patent applications: U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,782,805; 5,842,841; 8,518,021; U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/855,872; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,927,313.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The instant invention relates to alarm systems for use with medicaldelivery pumps for delivery of therapeutic fluids to a patient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The administration of therapeutic fluids to a patient is well known inthe art. Many types of medical delivery devices exist to deliver varioustherapeutic fluids to a patient, such as, for example, parenteralfluids, drugs or other medicaments, electrolytes, blood and bloodproducts, and the like. One particular type of medical delivery deviceis an infusion pump, which can deliver one or more of these therapeuticfluids to a patient via a variety of administration types, such as, forexample, intravenous (IV), intra-arterial (IA), subcutaneous, epidural,irrigation of fluid spaces applications, and the like. Many infusionpumps that operate under these types of administration typically utilizean administration line set and an associated container containing one ormore therapeutic fluids. The line set is typically loaded into adelivery mechanism of the pump, which facilitates delivery of the fluidto the patient.

Each type of administration and each type of therapeutic fluid typicallyinvolve numerous operational parameters, variables, constraints andother related information, such as medical and pharmaceutical relatedinformation, that must be monitored and followed to ensure proper,effective and safe delivery of therapeutic fluids to the patient andeffective treatment of the patient. To ensure proper monitoring andtreatment, most medical delivery pumps incorporate an alarm system toindicate to a caregiver or patient that an event has occurred, such asone or more operational parameters being out of a predetermined range.These alarms are typically visual or audible alarms, such as a beepingalarm.

In addition to medical delivery devices, most medical equipment that isutilized in direct patient care typically have alarm systems to notifythe caregiver of situations that require attention. While the intent ofthese alarms is to notify the caregiver of such situations and allowthem to be addressed, the shear number of alarm systems of equipmentthat may be associated with treatment of a particular patient, and thefrequency of such alarms being triggered and high levels of patientacuity, have ultimately minimized the sense of urgency in responding tosuch alarms. This can result in a potentially dangerous situation,particularly in the case of medical pumps utilized to properly andsafely deliver fluids, such as drugs, to a patient.

To address this concern, there is a need to distinguish between alarms,and in the case of medical pumps, there is a need to distinguish betweenalarms associated with the same or separate events that occur inconnection with the same or separate devices.

The present invention addresses these and other concerns and generallyprovides a new and improved alarm system for a medical pump for deliveryof medicaments to a patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides an alarm system for a medicalpump associated with delivering a medicament or fluid to a patient inconnection with treatment of the patient. According to a particularaspect of the invention, the alarm system comprises an alarm associatedwith at least one treatment parameter. The alarm includes a first alarmstate associated with a first event relating to the at least onetreatment parameter and a second alarm state associated with a secondevent. The second alarm state is discernable from the first alarm state.This will allow each of the events to be treated differently by acaregiver.

According to other aspects of the invention, the alarm may be audible,the alarm may be visual, the alarm may have both audible and visualcomponents, the second alarm state may have a tone that is discernablefrom the first alarm state, the second alarm state may have a volumelevel that is discernable from the first alarm state, the second alarmstate may have a frequency that is discernable the first alarm state,and/or the second alarm state may have an appearance that is discernablefrom the first alarm state.

According to another aspect of the invention, the second event relatesto the at least one treatment parameter.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the second eventrelates to a treatment parameter different from the at least onetreatment parameter.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the second event isdefined by expiration of an amount of time measured from occurrence ofthe first event.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the second event isdefined by a deviation from a value associated with the at least onetreatment parameter.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the at least onetreatment parameter is associated with the pump.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the at least onetreatment parameter is associated with a source external to the pump.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, an alarm signalassociated with the alarm states is routed to a device external to thepump.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the treatment parametermay be associated with a measurement from the patient, operation of thepump, and/or the fluid.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the second event maybe associated with a life-threatening situation for the patient.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the pump will shut offwhen the alarm is in the second alarm state.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the events can be setby a user.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the second alarm statewill only be operational with a particular fluid. The identification ofthe particular fluid may be stored in a memory associated with the pump.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the alarm system canbe customizable and include a near-end alert/alarm feature.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the alarm system canbe incorporated into different types of infusion pumps in including amicro electromechanical systems (MEMS) pump.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe drawings and written specification set forth herein, including theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram generically depicting an infusion pumphaving an alarm system in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting an infusion pump having an alarmsystem that includes an audible component in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a display of the infusion pump depicted inFIG. 3, which illustrates an exemplary visual first alarm state of thealarm system.

FIG. 4 is a screen shot of a display of the infusion pump depicted inFIG. 3, which illustrates an exemplary visual second alarm state of thealarm system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram generically depicting an infusion pumphaving an alarm system in communication with at least one externaldevice in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of the alarmsystem of the present invention incorporating a near-end alert/alarmfeature or snooze feature.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an example of a particular embodimentand application of the alarm system of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the alarmsystem of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible to embodiments in many differentforms, there are shown in the drawings and herein described in detail,preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that thepresent disclosures are to be considered as exemplifications of theprinciples of the invention and are not intended to limit the broadaspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

FIG. 1 generically depicts a medical fluid delivery pump 50 having analarm system 52 in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention. As is well known in the art, the pump 50 is utilized todeliver a medicament 54, or fluid 54, to a patient via a line set 56 andassociated container 58 containing the fluid 54. The pump 50 ispreferably a microprocessor-based pump that is capable of beingprogrammed, utilizing software and/or firmware, to facilitate operationand functionality of the pump 50. One preferred embodiment of the pump50 is the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,782,805 and 5,842,841, whichare incorporated herein by reference.

In a preferred embodiment, the alarm system 52 comprises an alarm 60having a first alarm state and associated alarm signal (indicated by thespeaker icon labeled as “1” in FIG. 1) and a second alarm state andassociated alarm signal (indicated by the speaker icon labeled as “2” inFIG. 1). However, any number of alarm states and associated signalscould be provided in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention. The alarm 60 of the alarm system 52 is preferably associatedwith at least one treatment parameter in connection with treatment of apatient. The treatment parameter may be associated with the pump 50, orit may be associated with an external source that is in communicationwith the pump alarm system 52. Examples of treatment parameters mayinclude a value representing an infusion rate of a therapeutic fluidbeing delivered to a patient by a volumetric infusion pump, informationrelating to operation of the pump, the identification of a drug beingdelivered to a patient, a measurement taken from a patient by the pumpor an external source, or any other information or data associated withthe treatment of a patient. As used herein, the term “treatmentparameter” is defined to encompass all of the above-described parametersas well as any other types or forms of data, values, parameters,information, units of time, or any discrete measurement or piece of datain connection with treatment of a patient. The alarm 60 is customizableand also can be pre-programmed or set by a caregiver such as at thebedside.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the first alarm stateis preferably associated with a first event relating to a treatmentparameter, and the second alarm state is associated with a second eventrelating to the same or another treatment parameter. The second alarmstate is discernable from the first alarm state so that a caregiver canact appropriately to each of the alarm states should they occur duringtreatment. The alarm 60 can be audible, visual, or a combinationthereof. The events may be any number of occurrences relating to thetreatment of the patient, such as, for example, measurement of anelapsed time between events, measurement of a value of a treatmentparameter, an occurrence relating to operation of the pump, anidentification or determination made by the pump or an external device,etc.

In a particular embodiment, the second event can be defined by an amountof time that has expired since the first alarm state has been activatedwithout being addressed by a caregiver. In such a case, the first andsecond events can be related to the same treatment parameter and thesecond alarm state is activated only when the particular amount of timehas expired since activation of the first alarm state. The second alarmstate may be in any form as described herein, such as, for example, anescalation of the frequency or tone of the first alarm state.

In yet another particular embodiment, the second event may be defined bya deviation from a particular value or range of values of a treatmentparameter. In such a case, the first and second events can be related tothe same treatment parameter. The first event may be defined by a firstdeviation value or range with respect to an original value of thetreatment parameter and the second event may be defined by a seconddeviation value or range, wherein the second event may be measured withrespect to either the original value of the treatment parameter or thefirst event. The original value may be a predetermined value, eitherpre-programmed or obtained by an external source. In this particularexample, the second alarm state is activated only when a particularvalue of deviation has occurred with respect to the original value ofthe treatment parameter or the first event.

In yet another embodiment, the first and second events may be related todifferent treatment parameters. For example, if the events are eachdefined by a deviation from a particular value of a treatment parameter,the first and second alarm states would be activated by a deviation ofits respective treatment parameters (i.e., first and second events). Insuch a case, the discernable alarm states would allow a caregiver toidentify the particular event associated with the particular alarmstate.

Preferably, the second alarm state is associated with an event that iscritical, i.e., life-threatening to the patient or of a high level ofimportance that requires immediate attention, whereas the first alarmstate is associated with an event that is non-critical, i.e.,non-life-threatening to the patient or of a lower level of importancethat does not require immediate attention. However, the alarm states canbe customized to be associated with, or categorized by, any type ofevent or occurrence. The event can be any occurrence related to thetreatment parameter, such as, for example, a deviation from thetreatment parameter or a flag raised by a treatment protocol that istriggered by the treatment parameter. The events may be associated withadministration of a fluid to a patient, a measurement from a patient,the operation of the pump, or any other aspect of treatment.

Referring to FIG. 2, a pump 80 is shown having three line sets 82 loadedtherein to facilitate delivery of three fluid types to a patient. Thepump 80 is preferably an infusion pump. Each of the line sets 82 isassociated with a container 83 containing a fluid being delivered to thepatient. The pump 80 includes a user interface 84 having a display 86that can be utilized for displaying a visual form of the alarm 60.Although not shown, a light indicator, such as an LED or other source oflight, could be incorporated into the pump and act as a visual form ofthe alarm 60. FIG. 2 schematically depicts a first audible alarm state(1) and a second audible alarm state (2), wherein the second alarm stateis discernable from the first alarm state because it is at a highervolume level than the first alarm state. The audible alarm states canalso be discernable by tone, by frequency of an interval, by type ofsound, or by any other means to create a perceptively different statebetween the two alarm states.

As already noted, the pump 80 of FIG. 2 can also incorporate a visualform of the alarm 60. As an example of a visual form of the alarm 60,FIG. 3 depicts a screenshot of the display 86 that shows an alert thatmay not be of a high level of importance and is therefore categorized asa first alarm state. In this example, a caregiver enabled a callbackfeature relating to a piggyback function of the pump 80. Thus, when thepiggyback infusion has been completed and the pump channel has switchedover to the primary rate, a first alarm state is activated in the formof an alert as shown on the screenshot in FIG. 3.

As an example of a visual form of the alarm 60 in the second alarmstate, FIG. 4 depicts a screenshot of the display 86 that shows an alertthat may be of a high level of importance and is therefore categorizedas a second alarm state. In this example, a channel of the pump 80 hasfailed and is out of service. Since this may be critical, a second alarmstate is activated in the form shown on the screenshot in FIG. 4. It isunderstood that in such a case, an audible alarm may also beincorporated into the alarm state as well.

In certain instances, it may be desirable to allow a user to programcertain events to be associated with a particular alarm state.Preferably such programming is done by personnel 30 authorized by ahealth care facility so that it can be in accordance with facilitypolicy and procedures. In a particular embodiment, the second alarmstate may be programmed to only be operational with a particular fluid,such as a particular drug. The alarm states can also be programmed toindicate drug interaction situations. In such embodiments, theidentification of a particular fluid having an associated alarm, or datatables or libraries indicating potential drug interactions, can bestored in a memory associated with the pump.

As shown in FIG. 5, according to another aspect of the invention, thealarm system 52 and associated alarm 60 can be linked to one or moreexternal sources or devices 100, such that the alarm system 52 can beutilized by these external sources. In such a case, the external sourceor device 100 would be associated with the treatment parameter to bemonitored. For example, a heart rate monitor or a pulse oximeter may beconnected to the alarm system 52 to allow treatment parameters of thesedevices, and events relating to the treatment parameters of thesedevices, to be associated with the alarm states of the alarm system 52.In such cases, there may be several external devices or sources thatutilize the alarm system 52 to provide an effective multi-state alarm.

As shown in FIG. 5, according to yet another aspect of the invention,the alarm system 52 may be in communication with an external device orsystem 150 to allow routing of an alarm state signal to that externaldevice or system. For example, the external system 150 may be acentralized server or computer that could allow an alarm state andassociated information, such as the associated event, treatmentparameter, device, patient identification, or the like, to be routed toother devices, such as another computer, a personal digital assistant(PDA), pager, wireless e-mail device, wireless telephone orcommunicator, or the like. Such an arrangement expands the effectivenessof a multi-state alarm system.

It is understood that the alarm system 52 is customizable in a varietyof different methods. For example, the system 52 can be set such that afirst drug is associated with an alarm escalation wherein the alarm hasa first state and a second state as described above. The system 52 isalso set such that a second drug is not associated with an alarmescalation. The system 52 can further be set such that in non-criticalalarms, the pump continues to run. However, with critical alarms, thepump is shut down.

FIG. 6 discloses a schematic diagram of yet another aspect of the alarmsystem 52 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the alarm system52 incorporates a customizable near-end alert/alarm having a “snooze”feature 200, snooze element or delay element. This aspect allows a userto define or enable a second event 202 relative to a first event 204 orrelative to when a caregiver addresses the first event 204. For example,the snooze feature 204 may define or enable the second event 202 interms of: expiration of an amount of time relative to either the firstevent 204 or when a caregiver addresses the first event 204; reaching avalue of a treatment parameter relative to either the first event 204 orwhen a caregiver addresses the first event 204; or any other type ofdata, information, or parameter that may change relative to either thefirst event 204 or when a caregiver addresses the first event 204. Whenthe second event 202 occurs, a second alarm state 206 is activatedwherein the second alarm state 206 is discernable from a first alarmstate 208 associated with the first event 204. The snooze feature 200may be configured such that additional events 210 may be thereafterdefined, each associated with the second alarm state 206, or additionalalarm states 212 that are all respectively discernable.

As already discussed above, in accordance with a particular embodiment,the second event 202 can be defined by an amount of time that hasexpired since the first alarm state 208 has been activated without beingaddressed by a caregiver. In a related aspect incorporating the snoozefeature 200, when the caregiver addresses the first alarm state 208, thesnooze feature 200 can be incorporated into the alarm system 52 to allowthe caregiver to acknowledge the first event 204 and define the secondevent 202 in terms of a predetermined amount of time measured relativeto either the first event 204 or when the caregiver addressed the firstevent 204, i.e. a snooze interval 214. When the snooze feature 200 isactivated by the caregiver, the second alarm state 206 is enabled andthe second event 202 is set by a predetermined value or preprogrammeddata stored in a memory, or by data entered or obtained at the time ofactivation of the snooze feature 200, which represents the snoozeinterval 214. After expiration of the snooze interval 214, the secondalarm state 206 is activated. The snooze feature 200 may be configuredsuch that additional events 210 and associated snooze intervals may bethereafter defined by further activation of the snooze feature 200. Thesecond alarm state 206, or one or more additional alarm states 212, maybe associated with these additional events 210.

As mentioned above, in a particular embodiment, the snooze feature orsnooze element 200 may define the second event 202 in terms of apredetermined value of a treatment parameter relative to the first event204 or when a caregiver addresses the first event 204. In a specificexample of this particular embodiment, the treatment parameter may berelated to the volume of an infusion of a medicament, such as a fluid,to a patient. The first event 204 may be defined in terms of apredetermined volume level value or in terms of units of time remaininguntil a predetermined volume level value is reached during treatment ofthe patient by infusion. When the first event 204 occurs and the firstalarm state 208 is activated, the caregiver may activate the snoozefeature 200, which deactivates the first alarm state 208. In thisexample, activation of the snooze feature 200 will define or enable thesecond event 202 in terms of a second volume level value or increment,or in terms of units of time until a volume level value is reachedduring the treatment of the patient. When the particular valueassociated with the second event 202 is reached, the second alarm state206 is activated. The snooze feature 200 may be configured such thatadditional events 210 may be thereafter defined by further activation ofthe snooze feature 200. The second alarm state 206, or one or moreadditional alarm states 212, may be associated with these additionalevents 210. When the treatment parameter is related to the volume in aninfusion application, the events can act as notifications to thecaregiver that a particular point in the infusion treatment has beenreached. Notification before the end of an infusion, i.e. a “near-end”alert, provides the caregiver the opportunity to avoid interruption intherapy, unwanted changes in the rate of infusion, or other occurrencesthat may adversely affect treatment of the patient. To avoid suchoccurrences, the caregiver can use the time after notification andbefore the end of the infusion to prepare and set-up a new container orinfusion kit.

In a particular embodiment, the alarm system 52 is in communication witha computer network 220 of a healthcare facility to allow communicationwith other devices or systems 222 within the facility. In such anembodiment, for example, a pharmacy of the facility can be automaticallynotified of one or more of the events so that a new container of fluidor drug can be prepared in time to avoid an interruption in the infusiontherapy of the patient. The alarm system 52 can also be in directcommunication, including wireless communication, with a device or system224 to allow for various control options of the system or alarm stateduplication or notification within the device or system 224. Inaddition, the alarm system 52 can be utilized for infusion ofmedicaments contained in flexible bags, syringes or semi-rigidcontainers. It is further understood that the alarm system 52 can occuron an infusion device such as an infusion pump shown in the Figures, butalso on a handheld device, a nurse paging system or a central monitoringsystem.

It should be appreciated that the snooze feature 200 can be implementedin numerous applications in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention, and as disclosed in the configurations shown in FIGS.1-5 and 8. For purposes of exemplification of a particular applicationof this feature and/or one or more other aspects of the presentinvention, the following example is provided and certain aspects thereofare schematically illustrated in FIG. 7. It should be understood thatthis example is one of many possible applications of the principles ofthe present invention and should in no way be construed to limit thescope of the present invention to the details of this particularexample.

EXAMPLE

In this particular example, a customizable “near-end” alarm system 250having a snooze feature 252 is provided for use in connection with aninfusion pump used to deliver a medicament or fluid to a patient viainfusion. The alarm system 250 is associated with the pump and can beincorporated into the pump, or a separate device or system, such as apersonal digital assistant (PDA) or other portable computing device, apaging system, monitoring system, or other device, network, or system.The near-end alarm system 250 can be customizable to a specific druginfusion wherein the snooze feature 252 allows for notification to thecaregiver before the end of the infusion. The notification is in theform of a first and/or a second alarm state 254 and 256 of the alarmsystem 250, which can be audible, visual, or both. In this example, thealarm states 254 and 256 notify the caregiver that the infusion volumeremaining will soon reach a predetermined value (which is zero in thiscase, although other values are possible) so that the caregiver canrespond to the notification, such as by hanging a new fluid containerand resetting the volume to be infused via the pump. This prevents theinfusion from dropping to a lower rate that could potentially adverselyaffect the patient's hemodynamic status.

In this example, a first event 260 is defined by the infusion volumereaching a first value or parameter X, which can be preprogrammed;programmed at the point of care for a specific drug infusion such as atthe bedside; obtained via an identification or data associated with aline set or container, such as a barcode label, RFID, or the like;obtained from an external device, such as a handheld device or otherexternal device; or obtained from an external source via a networkconnection; or the like. Alternatively, the first event 260 can bedefined by a value or parameter representing an amount of time remainingbefore the end of the infusion (for example, the number of minutesremaining before the end of the infusion). The value associated with thefirst event 260 can be a component of a predetermined drug specificprofile associated with a container of a specific drug or line set type.A second event 262 is also defined by the infusion volume reaching asecond value or parameter Y, which can be programmed or obtained insimilar fashion to that of the first value X. If desired, additionalevents defined by respective values may also be programmed.

When the first value X is reached during infusion, the first alarm state254 is activated, thereby notifying the caregiver. The first value Xcould represent 30 minutes remaining before completion of the infusion.The caregiver can then activate the snooze feature. Activation of thesnooze feature 252 of the alarm system 250 allows the second event 262to be set within the system so that upon occurrence of the second event254, i.e., the infusion volume reaching the second value Y, the secondalarm state 262 is activated to further notify the caregiver. In apreferred embodiment, the second alarm state 262 is discernable from thefirst alarm state 260 to ensure that the caregiver will be notified ofthe second event 254, especially in critical applications. If additionalevents have been programmed, the snooze process can be continued foreach of the additional events. In a particular embodiment with only twoprogrammed events, the first alarm state 252 and/or the second alarmstate 254 comprises an escalating alarm that escalates as the volumevalue (or time value) decreases from the second value to notify thecaregiver of the rate of decreasing volume (or time). Depending on thetype of alarm, the escalation could be in the form of an increase involume, a change in the type of tone, a change in the interval orfrequency of the tone, the activation of, or a change in appearance of,one or more visual indicators, or any combination thereof. Thisescalation process can also be incorporated in embodiments having morethan two event and associated alarm states. The alarm system 52 couldhave a more urgent (using any of the discernable alerts described above)near-end alert/alarm for a designated high alert or in critical infusiontherapies.

In a particular embodiment, the alarm system 250 is in communicationwith a computer network 270 of the healthcare facility to allowcommunication with other systems 272 within the facility. In such anembodiment, for example, a pharmacy of the facility can be automaticallynotified of one or more of the events so that a new container of fluidor drug can be prepared in time to avoid an interruption in the infusiontherapy of the patient.

With such features of the alarm system 52, a clinician is alerted that avolume to be infused will soon be zero so the clinician can respond tothe alert, set up a new container and reset the volume to be infused.This prevents an infusion from dropping to an unwanted or undesirablelower rate and also prevents an interruption of therapy. The delay orsnooze feature is completely customizable wherein the alarm system 52can be configured as desired.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of an alarm system of the presentinvention, generally designated with the reference numeral 352. Thealarm system 352 is similar to the embodiments described above, however,the alarm system 352 is utilized with a disposable element or microelectromechanical system (MEMS) element. In one preferred embodiment,the MEMS element is a MEMS pump. It is understood, however, that thepump could be any type of disposable pump including pumps micro-moldedin plastic or otherwise manufactured on a small scale. As shown in FIG.6, alarm system 352 may be used in conjunction with a medicationdelivery system, generally designated with the reference numeral 300.The system 100 generally includes a medical device 312, preferably aMEMS pump 312, which may have an associated controller 330, anadministration line set 314, a container 316. The system 100 may alsotake the form of any of the systems such as disclosed in commonly-ownedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/040,887, entitled “Infusion System,”which application is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

The container 316 is a container similar to the container 16 describedabove. In one preferred embodiment, the container 316 is a flexible bagadapted to contain a medication such as a medicament or medical fluid.The administration line set 314 is similar the line set 14 describedabove. The line set 314 includes a tubing having one end connected to orotherwise in communication with the container 316 and another end havinga catheter or other device for communication with the patient.

As further shown in FIG. 5, the MEMS pump 312 is operably associatedwith the line set 314. The MEMS pump 312 may be connected to the lineset 314 in various configurations. For example, the MEMS pump 312 mayhave an inlet port 320 and an outlet port 322 wherein the MEMS pump 312is connected at an intermediate portion of the line set 314.Accordingly, a portion of the line set 314 is connected to the inletport and a portion of the line set 314 is connected to the outlet port322 wherein the MEMS pump 312 is operably connected to the line set 314.Once properly connected, the MEMS pump 312 can pump fluid from thecontainer 316 to the patient.

As discussed, the pump 312 may be a MEMS pump 312. MEMS devices aretypically etched in silicon. It is further understood that MEMS may alsodescribe other types of micro electromechanical system devices such asdevices that are micro-molded in plastic. Thus, MEMS devices may includedevices etched in silicon, molded in plastic or otherwise fabricated ona small scale.

As discussed, the system 300 may further use the controller 330. Thecontroller 330 is operably associated with the MEMS pump 312. Thecontroller 330 may communicate with the MEMS pump 312 via a wirelessconnection. Alternatively, a hard connection may be utilized wherein theMEMS pump 312 may be plugged into the controller 330. While thecontroller 330 is shown as a separate component in one preferredembodiment, it is understood that the controller 330 may be integralwith the MEMS pump 312.

Similar to the discussion above, the controller 330 incorporates thealarm system 352. The alarm system 352 operates with the controller 330and in cooperation with the MEMS pump 312. It is further understood thatthe alarm system 352 could be integral with the pump 312. The alarmsystem 352 is customizable and may include all of the features of thealarm systems previously described. Thus, as described, the alarm system352 may include multiple alarm states that are discernable from oneanother. The alarm system 352 may also include the near-end alert/alarmfeature as discussed above.

It is further understood that a pump utilized in the present inventionwill incorporate safety software. The safety software is capable ofgenerating basic failure alarms wherein the pump would assume a failsafe condition such as no free flow of medicament through the pump.Various software/pump configurations may be utilized. For example, allsoftware may be located on the pump head, or all software may be locatedoff of, or remote from the pump head. In addition, all software may belocated off of the pump head with the exception of the specific safetysoftware being located on the pump head.

It should be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or centralcharacteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to beconsidered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, and theinvention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A medical fluid therapy systemcomprising: a medical fluid pumping apparatus; a first medical fluidcontainer holding a first medical fluid and a first line extending fromthe first medical fluid container to the pumping apparatus; a secondmedical fluid container holding a second medical fluid different fromthe first medical fluid and a second line extending from the secondmedical fluid container to the pumping apparatus; and an alarm featureprovided with the pumping apparatus, the alarm feature including a firstalarm signal associated with a first low level event of the first orsecond fluid in the respective first or second medical fluid container,a second alarm signal associated with a second low level event of thefirst or second fluid in the respective first or second medical fluidcontainer, and a snooze element configured to deactivate the first alarmsignal after the first low level event has occurred and to enable thesecond alarm signal to be activated upon occurrence of the second lowlevel event.
 2. The medical fluid therapy system of claim 1, whichincludes a third medical fluid container holding a third medical fluiddifferent from the first and second medical fluids, and a third lineextending from the third medical fluid container to the pumpingapparatus, and wherein the first and second low level events areassociated additionally with the third fluid in the third medical fluidcontainer.
 3. The medical fluid therapy system of claim 1, wherein themedical fluid pumping apparatus includes first and second pumpactuators, the first line actuated by the first pump actuator, and thesecond line actuated by the second pump actuator.
 4. The medical fluidtherapy system of claim 1, wherein the first and second low level eventsare associated with a determined volume of the first medical fluid or adetermined volume of a second medical fluid.
 5. The medical fluidtherapy system of claim 1, wherein the first and second low level eventsare associated with first and second amounts of time elapsed orremaining.
 6. The medical fluid therapy system of claim 1, wherein thesecond low level event is a duration of time that has passed since thefirst alarm signal associated with the first low level event isactivated.
 7. The medical fluid therapy system of claim 1, wherein thesecond alarm signal is discernable from the first alarm signal.
 8. Themedical fluid therapy system of claim 1, wherein the medical fluidpumping apparatus is an infusion pumping apparatus and at least one ofthe first or second fluids is a parenteral fluid, drug, medicament,electrolyte, blood or blood product.
 9. A medical fluid therapy systemcomprising: a medical fluid pumping apparatus including a first pumpactuator and a second pump actuator; a first medical fluid containerholding a first medical fluid and a first line extending from the firstmedical fluid container to the pumping apparatus, the first lineactuated by the first pump actuator; a second medical fluid containerholding a second medical fluid different from the first medical fluidand a second line extending from the second medical fluid container tothe pumping apparatus, the second line actuated by the second pumpactuator; and an alarm feature provided with the pumping apparatus, thealarm feature including a first alarm signal associated with a firstevent relating to at least one treatment parameter concerning operationof the first or second pump actuator, a second alarm signal associatedwith a second event relating to the at least one treatment parameter,and a snooze element configured to deactivate the first alarm signalafter the first event has occurred and to enable the second alarm signalto be activated upon occurrence of the second event.
 10. The medicalfluid therapy system of claim 9, wherein the first event is associatedwith a value of the at least one treatment parameter, and the secondevent includes an expiration of an amount of time measured from anoccurrence of the first event.
 11. The medical fluid therapy system ofclaim 9, wherein the first event is associated with anon-life-threatening situation concerning the at least one treatmentparameter, and the second event is associated with a life-threateningsituation concerning the at least one treatment parameter.
 12. Themedical fluid therapy system of claim 9, wherein the at least onetreatment parameter concerning operation of the first or second pumpactuator involves an amount of the first or second medical fluid pumpedby the first or second pump actuator.
 13. The medical fluid therapysystem of claim 9, wherein the second alarm signal is discernable fromthe first alarm signal.
 14. The medical fluid therapy system of claim 9,wherein the medical fluid pumping apparatus is an infusion pumpingapparatus and at least one of the first or second fluids is a parenteralfluid, drug, medicament, electrolyte, blood or blood product.
 15. Amedical fluid therapy system comprising: a medical fluid pumpingapparatus; a first medical fluid container holding a first medical fluidand a first line extending from the first medical fluid container to thepumping apparatus; a second medical fluid container holding a secondmedical fluid different from the first medical fluid and a second lineextending from the second medical fluid container to the pumpingapparatus; and an alarm feature provided with the pumping apparatus, thealarm feature including (i) a first alarm signal associated with anevent relating to a treatment parameter concerning at least one of thefirst or second medical fluids, and (ii) a snooze element configured todeactivate the first alarm signal after the event has occurred and toenable a second alarm signal to be activated when a predefined amount oftime has expired from the occurrence of the event, the second alarmsignal discernable from the first alarm signal.
 16. The medical fluidtherapy system of claim 15, wherein the predefined amount of time is setaccording to (i) a predetermined value or (ii) preprogrammed data storedin a memory.
 17. The medical fluid therapy system of claim 15, whereinthe predefined amount of time is entered or obtained at a time ofactivation of the snooze feature.
 18. The medical fluid therapy systemof claim 15, wherein the event is based on an amount of time remaininguntil a predetermined volume of the at least one of the first or secondmedical fluids is delivered to the patient.
 19. The medical fluidtherapy system of claim 15, wherein the event is based on an amount oftime remaining until an end of delivery of the at least one of the firstor second medical fluids to the patient.
 20. The medical fluid therapysystem of claim 15, wherein the at least one treatment parameterconcerning at least one of the first or second medical fluids involvesan amount of the at least one of the first or second medical fluidspumped via their respective first or second lines.